Learn about corps’ levee plan

Published: Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 11:10 a.m.

You can learn about updated federal plans to build the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane protection system and air your views at a meeting this week.

A forum on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ newest report on Morganza is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Houma Municipal Auditorium, 880 Verret St.

Morganza is a system of levees, floodgates and a lock on the Houma Navigation Canal designed to protect Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes from storm flooding.

The Terrebonne levee system is using state and local money to complete an interim system. But the corps’ latest draft report says upgrading it to its specifications could cost $12.9 billion, a sum local officials said may never be secured.

<p>You can learn about updated federal plans to build the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane protection system and air your views at a meeting this week.</p><p>A forum on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' newest report on Morganza is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Houma Municipal Auditorium, 880 Verret St.</p><p>Morganza is a system of levees, floodgates and a lock on the Houma Navigation Canal designed to protect Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes from storm flooding.</p><p>The Terrebonne levee system is using state and local money to complete an interim system. But the corps' latest draft report says upgrading it to its specifications could cost $12.9 billion, a sum local officials said may never be secured.</p><p>The report updates the costs to reflect stricter hurricane protection standards enacted after Hurricane Katrina.</p>